A day out is spoiled just as easily by a ride that's too hard as by one that's too easy. In the first case you survive it, in the second you get bored. That's why every Exoride event states two levels, and why it's worth taking two minutes to work out yours.
Two scales, because two different things are being measured
The technical level is what you can ride today. It doesn't improve on the day itself: on a steep, rooty trail, either the move is there or it isn't.
The fitness level is how long you can keep going. It gets better with training, and it can be managed on the day by taking it easier.
The two are independent. Plenty of riders are 3 in technique and 2 in fitness, or the exact opposite. That's precisely why we grade them separately.
The technical scale, from 1 to 4
1 out of 4. You can ride a bike on the road or on gravel tracks. You have no off-road experience.
2 out of 4. You ride regularly and have some experience on mountain terrain. You handle climbs and descents on moderate to steep trails, sometimes with natural obstacles like roots or rocks. You can clear small steps or rocks up to 20 cm, up as well as down. Your experience tells you when to walk, when the ground gets too exposed or dangerous.
3 out of 4. You ride regularly and enjoy technical, steep trails. You're comfortable in the dry and in the wet, climbing and descending. You can easily ride a red run in a bike park, clear steps up to 30 cm up and down, and do small controlled jumps when the terrain calls for it. You're also at ease with exposure.
4 out of 4. You've been riding regularly for more than five years. You confidently handle every kind of natural or man-made obstacle: wet roots, rocks, very steep ground, tight switchbacks needing nose turns, jumps, gaps and drops. You're comfortable on black bike park runs, or you've raced.
The fitness scale, from 1 to 4
1 out of 4. You're reasonably sporty and active on a regular basis. You can ride roughly 3 to 4 hours a day at a steady pace, for up to 4 days in a row.
2 out of 4. You're regularly active, at least 2 to 3 times a week for around half an hour. You can ride roughly 4 to 6 hours a day at a steady pace, for up to 6 days in a row. You can also push and carry your bike over long sections.
3 out of 4. You're regularly active, at least 3 to 4 times a week for around 45 minutes. You can ride 6 hours or more a day while staying comfortable with the effort, for up to 6 days in a row, including long climbs with pushing and carrying.
4 out of 4. You're an experienced athlete, active at least 5 times a week for 45 minutes or more. You can ride 6 hours or more a day, comfortable in the effort, for more than 6 consecutive days.
And the half levels?
You'll see 2.5/4 or 3.5/4 on some events, and sometimes a range like 2 to 3 out of 4.
A half level means the day sits between two rungs: mostly within reach of the lower level, with a few sections that belong to the one above. A 2.5/4 is a good step up for a solid 2 who wants to push, and an easy day for a 3.
A range, like 2 to 3 out of 4, means the guide can adapt the route on the day: alternative lines, sections that can be walked, a pace set by the group. If you're between two levels, these are the days to look at first.
Reading an event page
Take a shuttle day graded technical 2.5/4 and fitness 2/4. In plain terms: the trails will ask something of you but stay readable, with a few passages where you'll want to take a look first. On the fitness side, no long climbs, since the van does the work, but a full day on the bike all the same.
Same day at 3.5/4 technical: steep, exposed, no time to think. If you're a 2, you won't enjoy it, however fit you are.
Three things worth knowing
An e-bike doesn't buy you technique. It flattens the climbs, which shifts the fitness level, not the technical one. The descent is exactly the same, and the bike is heavier.
When in doubt, go one level down for your first ride with us. You'll have a better day, and we'll know what you can do. Moving up afterwards is easy; recovering from a day spent hanging on is not.
Write to us rather than guess. Tell us what you ride, where and how often, and we'll tell you honestly whether the format fits. It takes two minutes and it saves entire days.
Find a ride at your level
Levels are shown on every event page. You can also browse the calendar directly: level 1 to 2, level 2 to 3 or level 3 to 4.
And if you want to move up a rung rather than wait for it to happen, that's exactly what our skills coaching is for.
